Why Wolff must apply a different lesson from 2016 with Antonelli and Russell

For once, the conversation in the Gilles Villeneuve paddock was not about batteries or energy management. Instead, the focus was firmly on the on-track action. During the Formula 1 sprint race for the Canadian Grand Prix, the battle between Kimi Antonelli and George Russell flared up for the first time.

The young Italian attempted a move around the outside at Turn 1, but was forced onto the grass when Russell closed the door. It left Antonelli frustrated, as he argued that he had his mirror alongside Russell. However, when it comes to overtaking around the outside, the FIA’s racing guidelines do not focus on mirror overlap, but on the position of the front axle.

The FIA document explicitly states that “overtaking on the outside will always be viewed as a more difficult manoeuvre to accomplish,” precisely the view Russell shared post-race:

“As kids in karting, we know that there’s a certain element of risk that comes with overtaking on the outside. They are amazing overtakes when they come off, but the chances are quite slim.”

Not in line with the pre-race meetings?

More important than determining exactly who was right is how this affects the internal battle at Mercedes and how Toto Wolff chooses to handle it. Antonelli was frustrated behind the wheel, to the extent that Wolff felt compelled to come on the team radio twice.

The second intervention came after Antonelli’s most interesting remark: “If we need to race like this, then good to know!” the championship leader fumed.

Speaking in the press conference afterwards – once tempers had cooled somewhat – Antonelli explained that, in his view, what happened on track in Montreal was not entirely consistent with Mercedes’ pre-race meetings.

“Obviously, we do meetings before races and that’s what we say in the room. Then, of course, we race to win and we try to do our best to defend our position. So, probably I understood the significance of that meeting a bit differently.”

Asked by Autosport whether he would change his own approach if this kind of racing is deemed acceptable, Antonelli continued:

“For sure. I think, we probably just need a bit of clarity. And then once it’s clear, then it’s all going to be fine, I think. Definitely, I need to probably ask again. We all want the best for, first of all, each other, but also for the team. So, for sure, we will clarify, and then everything’s going to be fine.”

A crucial difference compared to 2016

That final point is naturally the most interesting one: how the conversation after the sprint race will unfold, and whether Mercedes already feels the need to tighten its rules of engagement.

Recent history offers two interesting examples. Last year, McLaren tried to manage the battle between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri through the much-discussed “papaya rules”.

That term quickly took on a life of its own, and earlier this year several McLaren team members admitted that the approach may at times have been overly restrictive, making life more difficult than necessary for both the team and both drivers.

It is, however, a fine line to walk: overregulating versus allowing tensions to rise too high and eventually reach boiling point on track. Wolff has plenty of experience with the latter from the Lewis Hamilton–Nico Rosberg title fight in 2016.

A lot has changed for Toto Wolff since 2016

Photo by: XPB Images

Last year, during a remarkably candid media session at Zandvoort, the Mercedes boss shared some revealing reflections on that period.

“I mean, I obviously, I was quite green at the time also. And I tried to, you know, we always were open and transparent in terms of how we would handle the cars and everything,” Wolff started.

“Where it got more difficult, I guess, was when Lewis had an engine failure in the lead in Malaysia. And that was very difficult for him to take.

“And from then on, the mistake that we’ve done is that we tried to finish the season with as little controversy as possible. Rather than to say, we’ll win the championship anyway – constructors’ and drivers’ – let it roll. And that is something I would maybe do differently today, if we were ever to be in a luxurious position like this.”

Those are remarkably open comments, yet this situation is fundamentally different for two reasons, meaning Wolff cannot simply do what he suggested in Zandvoort.

Most importantly, it is still early in the season and the competition is significantly closer than it was back then, particularly McLaren. Neither world championship is anywhere near secure now, meaning Mercedes cannot afford to give both drivers complete freedom.

Doing so would amount to Russian roulette this early in a new regulatory cycle, where the competitive order can shift rapidly through car development. In every scenario, the interests of the team must therefore take precedence – perhaps even more so than in the 2016 example.

A frosty handshake between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli?

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Wolff himself acknowledged this immediately after the sprint race in Montreal, saying this is precisely where he needs to apply a different lesson from 2016:

“What I learned is that I have to step in earlier – or that we all have to step in earlier together – and not complain about it publicly.”

This seems a good moment to do exactly that, especially given the competitive picture.

“Sometimes it needs a little moment to remind ourselves what our objectives are. This is not particularly against one or the other, but there’s a framework that we want to establish and I’d rather have it in a sprint race where it’s not about a lot of points than in the main race.”

Preserving the long-term relationships

Another important difference is that Mercedes does not appear to be facing a repeat of the Rosberg scenario, where one of its drivers leaves F1 at the end of the season. Antonelli remains Mercedes’ long-term prospect, while Russell has many more F1 seasons left in him as well.

Of course, the Max Verstappen question continues to linger in the background, but Wolff has repeatedly stated that he sees the current line-up as a good option for Mercedes’ future. If he genuinely believes that, then the relationship between his drivers must be maintained.

In that respect, Wolff’s comments from Zandvoort about 2016 are equally revealing. Even with Rosberg departing, that season still left scars – particularly in the relationship with Hamilton.

Toto Wolff admits he had a «really, really tough time» with Lewis Hamilton in 2016

Photo by: Getty Images

“It was a tough time with Lewis also. We had a really, really tough time around the prize-giving, when Nico announced it, and also in the weeks after. And that’s when I said, listen, we’ve got to sit down. Because if we are not talking to each other, then where is this going?

“And I just want you know to know that I’d like you to be in the team for a long time. You’re the best driver. If you think we’re the best team, then we need to just sit down and agree to disagree or put all those points out. And what we’ve really learned, is that you need to communicate.”

That lesson applies again today – starting with the clarity Antonelli is asking for, and then ensuring that the relationship between the two drivers remains healthy, even with the eyes on the biggest prize.

The competitive picture is different from 10 years ago, which means Mercedes must keep a firm grip on the situation, although the level of freedom it can afford its drivers might change later in the year. But for now, the team must keep control in a way that both drivers can accept, for which clarity is indeed key.

It is not only important for the present, but even more for what may be at stake if the title fight intensifies later in the season.

One emergency measure would be to threaten drivers with having to pay for the damage themselves, just as Mercedes did in 2016. For now, however, Wolff can laugh about that possibility and prefers constructive talks over financial punishments:

“Well, we haven’t needed that option for a long time, but now I’ll have to come up with something again!,” the Austrian laughed.

On a more serious note, this is an important moment for Wolff to use all his experience from 2016. It’s a situation – having two drivers fighting for the wins – that he dreamed of for years, and still a better challenge to face than wresting with the ground-effect cars. And more than anything, Wolff wants to turn this challenge into an opportunity: the foundations for clarity and a healthy rivalry can – and perhaps must – be laid now.

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— The Autosport.com Team